Industry

Srinivas Sugandhalaya (BNG) LLP

Masala Incense: A History

What sets Srinivas Sugandhalaya incense apart and at the fore of incense manufacture is our
use of the masala/flora technique in production. This approach is both a return to our roots
steeped in Indian spirituality and a recognition of quality. But what is masala incense and why is
it so special?

In recognition of the cleansing and spiritual power inherent in smoke, early Indians invented
dhoop possibly as early as 5000BC . Dhoop is a thick paste formed by mixing eight or ten (these
measures were of importance) fragrant herbs with sandalwood, a wood powder called jigat ,
charcoal powder and soft resin. These ingredients are usually dry and contain very little water
content. The paste so formed was shaped into cones and then lit to produce smoke. Today,
this form of manufacturing incense is known as the ‘masala’ technique and the dry nature of the
ingredient paste explains its longevity. Masala incense ages like wine and its potency does not
diminish with time.

In the early days, the authority to produce incense lay largely with the priesthood and Ayurvedic
doctors and was produced primarily for temples and royalty. With time and Buddhism’s
wholehearted embrace of incense culture, incense became commonplace journeying with
monks. Some attribute the invention of masala incense sticks to Buddhist monks while others
believe it wasn’t until the 1700s that the Maharaja of Mysore experimented with making incense
sticks using the aforementioned masala paste. Since his time, the manufacture of masala
incense sticks is an important cottage industry in India supporting women artisans.

In a sense, dhoop and masala incense are synonymous given that the earliest masala incense
took on the shape of a cone. However, with the invention of the masala incense stick, two new
variants have emerged: darbar and champa masala. Darbar masala refers to a wet paste of
ingredients rolled onto a stick for immediate use. The champa masala, by contrast, refers to a
dry paste of ingredients incorporated into a special resin collected from the Ailinathus
Malabarica, a tree indigenous to India, then hand-rolled onto a bamboo stick. The champa
preserves and lasts for many years.

The Social Impact of a Scent

Owing to the handcrafted nature of Indian incense, the industry is a major livelihood generator
and entrepreneurial propellant supporting millions of artisans. When you buy from us, you
support a traditional craft with an innovative history and women artisans who make this craft
their pride. Since artisans belong, in most cases, to the rural poor and tribal populations,
Indian incense art is an important social leveller providing opportunity and sustenance to those
who are often not heard.

However, because of the competitive nature of the business and its unorganized nature, many
production units may resort to sub-standard practices. It is here that we at the Srinivas
Sugandhalaya establishment display an awareness of the social and ecological importance of
handcrafted incense and a commitment to nurturing just manufacturing and employment
practices. Old clients will vouch for the quality of our masala incense, while artisans vouch for
our ethics.

Our artisans are provided with social overheads and a fair wage in addition to work gear,
including masks and gloves. We see ourselves as a family.
The use of bamboo in our work ensures a minimal ecological footprint and is of support to tribal
artisans.

Since the industry predominantly employs women artisans, it is also responsible for poverty
alleviation. Numerous studies have shown, as has it been our experience, that women reinvest income into community, both domestic and public, such as the education of their children, better
nutritional choices for their families and public funds.

In this way, supporting our work in handcrafted incense lends a voice to craft, the earth, tribal
welfare, gender parity and agency.

Srinivas Sugandhalaya (BNG) LLP

A belief in the power of imagination led to the birth of Srinivas Sugandhalaya. In India, scents
and rituals co-mingle in the everyday.The gentle caress of a jasmine garland can provide a
sense of grounding in the here and now.